Rent control laws limit the amount a landlord can increase rents on existing tenants. Most states have laws that prohibit local governments from enacting rent control measures. But over 180 municipalities in the United States have rent control measures—and all of them are located in California, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, and Washington, D.C.
The state of Oregon has a statewide rent control law that limits annual rent increases to 7% plus the increase in the consumer price index.
As of the knowledge cutoff in 2023, Illinois does not have a statewide rent control law. However, there has been ongoing debate and legislative efforts to implement rent control measures. The Illinois Rent Control Preemption Act, which was enacted in 1997, currently prohibits local governments within the state from enacting rent control policies. This means that, unlike states such as Oregon, which has a statewide rent control law, or cities in California, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, and Washington, D.C., where local rent control measures exist, Illinois landlords are not subject to legal limits on how much they can increase rent for existing tenants. Any changes to this status would require legislative action to repeal or amend the Illinois Rent Control Preemption Act.